Spina Bifida Clinic

Johns Hopkins All Children's multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Clinic provides coordinated care and comprehensive evaluations to ensure convenience for families, and to give your child the opportunity for their highest level of function.

At Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, we understand a diagnosis of spina bifida requires lifelong treatment with multiple specialists. Our team brings together experts across specialties to help coordinate care and provide comprehensive evaluation for your child.

Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital?

We offer a multidisciplinary team of professionals that can develop a customized care plan for your child. The severity of your child’s spina bifida will determine what type of care your child will require. Through comprehensive evaluations with a team of professionals, our team will develop the best plan to meet your child’s needs.  

Conditions We Treat

Our team is prepared to treat all forms of spina bifida, even the most severe.

• Dermal sinus tract–When the spinal cord is connected to the skin, usually the lower portion of the spine.
• Fatty filum terminale–Indicated by a layer of fat at the end of the spinal cord and often not visible externally, although there may be a sacral dimple.
• Lipomeningocele–Often indicated by a fatty mass or abnormal appearance (discoloration, birthmark, indentation) over the low back in the lumbosacral region.
• Meningocele–The membrane covering the spinal cords protrudes outside the body, but does not contain any nerves or other portion of the spinal cord.
• Myelomeningocele–The most severe form of spina bifida, occurring when a protrusion outside the body contains nerves or part of the spinal cord.
• Occulta–The mildest form of spina bifida, occurring when there is a small gap in the spinal column, but no opening in the skin or damage to the spinal cord.  
• Split cord malformation (Diastematomyelia)–This occurs when the spinal cord is split into two separate cords. 

There are a variety of associated conditions that may be present with spina bifida. If needed, we work with your family to develop treatment plans to address these concerns.